Electricity Sector Liberalisation and Innovation: An Analysis of the UK Patenting Activities

Tooraj Jamasb and Michael Pollitt

Cambridge Working Papers in Economics from Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge

Abstract: Liberalisation has had a marked effect on innovative activities in the electricity industry. R&D and patenting activities are generally regarded respectively as innovative inputs to and outputs from technological progress. Electricity reforms have resulted in a reduction in R&D spending in the sector. This paper examines the effect of reforms on patenting activity in the UK electricity sector. The results indicate that electricity related patents in non-nuclear and renewable technologies have increased in the post-liberalisation period. We attribute this trend to increased commercialisation of the sector. While this development is positive, we argue that a lasting decline in R&D will in the longer run reduce technological progress in the sector. In order to maintain the pace of innovation, we discuss the need for a framework for innovation systems that is commensurate with the incentive mechanisms of a liberalised sector.

Keywords: Electricity; patent; innovation; technology; liberalisation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L94 O31 Q32 Q38 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ene, nep-ino, nep-ipr, nep-pr~ and nep-tid
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Electricity sector liberalisation and innovation: An analysis of the UK's patenting activities (2011)
Working Paper: Electricity Sector Liberalisation and Innovation: An Analysis of the UK Patenting Activities (2009)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cam:camdae:0902

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